Gas Collection Device

The present application is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/KR 2024/013306 filed Sep. 4, 2024, which claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0183126 filed on Dec. 15, 2023, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein.

The present application relates to an apparatus for collecting gas, and more particularly, to an apparatus for collecting gas capable of accurately and stably delivering collected analysis target gas to a gas analysis module by automating loading, unloading, and punching of a battery for multiple secondary batteries.

Secondary batteries are batteries that can be used repeatedly through a discharging process that converts chemical energy into electrical energy and a charging process that converts electrical energy into chemical energy, and commonly known types include nickel-cadmium (Ni—Cd) batteries, nickel-metal hydride (Ni—MH) batteries, lithium-metal batteries, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, and lithium-ion polymer batteries, etc. Among these secondary batteries, lithium secondary batteries have been commercialized and are widely used due to their high energy density and voltage, long cycle life, and low self-discharge rate.

n 2n−2 n 2n n 2n+2 Various types of gases may be generated inside a lithium secondary battery depending on the charge and discharge reaction, such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons such as CH(n=2-5), CH(n=2-5), and CH(n=1-5), and other organic gas species.

In addition, lithium secondary batteries generate a large amount of gas in the process of electrolyte decomposition and degradation due to repeated charging and discharging, and this aspect varies depending on the design and usage of the battery. Therefore, it is essential to analyze the gas generated inside the battery to infer a degradation mechanism of the battery during the battery development process.

Therefore, it is very important to collect and accurately analyze the gas generated inside the secondary battery. Information on the composition and content of various gases generated during charging and discharging of lithium secondary batteries is useful for developing battery materials, optimizing the battery manufacturing process, and identifying the cause of battery failure. To this end, the development of technology to collect gas generated inside the secondary battery is important.

The following process may be performed as one of methods for analyzing the gas generated inside the secondary battery.

In order to collect an analysis target gas generated inside the secondary battery, a perforation hole is formed in the case of the secondary battery, and the analysis target gas is extracted through the perforation hole.

The extracted analysis target gas is diffused into a sealed gas diffusion space.

The analysis target gas diffused in the gas diffusion space is sampled in a sampling vessel.

The analysis target gas sampled in the sampling vessel is injected into a gas analysis apparatus such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to perform gas analysis.

In order to obtain reliable analysis results, it is necessary to collect data by performing the above processes on multiple batteries. However, if the above processes are performed manually, reproducibility decreases, and issues such as the risk of gas leakage and contamination of the apparatus due to repeated operations may occur. Therefore, an automated gas collecting technology for secondary battery analysis is required to solve the above problems.

The present disclosure relates to a gas collecting apparatus, and is directed to providing a gas collecting apparatus capable of accurately and stably collecting analysis target gas and delivering it to a gas analysis module by automating loading, unloading, and punching of a battery for multiple secondary batteries.

Technical problems to be achieved by the present disclosure are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains from the description below.

a loading unit configured to sequentially supply a plurality of analysis target batteries one by one to a first position on a first moving unit, wherein the first moving unit is configured to move an analysis target battery of the plurality of batteries located at the first position to a second position on the first moving unit; a gripper unit configured to position the analysis target battery located at the second position in a gas extraction unit or move the analysis target battery positioned in the gas extraction unit to the second position, wherein the gas extraction unit is configured to extract gas from the battery housed therein; a second moving unit configured to receive the analysis target battery located at the second position from the first moving unit and move the battery to a third position, wherein the third position is located on the second moving unit; and an unloading unit configured to receive the analysis target battery located at the third position from the second moving unit. A gas collecting apparatus may include:

According to an aspect, the first moving unit may include a first rotating part configured to rotate around a first center as a central axis, and a first driving part configured to rotate the first rotating part.

According to an aspect, the first rotating part may have a disk shape, and the first moving unit may further include a first guide part configured to restrict the analysis target battery from deviating from a circumferential direction of the first rotating part.

According to an aspect, the loading unit may include a loading conveyor belt configured to sequentially transport the plurality of analysis target batteries to an upper surface of the first rotating part, and a loading driver configured to drive the loading conveyor belt, and an upper surface of the loading conveyor belt may be higher than an upper end part of the first guide part.

According to an aspect, the loading unit may further include a pair of loading guide bars configured to guide the plurality of analysis target batteries so as to be aligned along a longitudinal direction of the loading conveyor belt and restrict the the plurality of batteries from leaving the loading conveyor belt, and the pair of loading guide bars may be parallel to each other, spaced apart from each other by a distance greater than or equal to a diameter of each battery of the plurality of analysis target batteries, and extend in the longitudinal direction of the loading conveyor belt.

According to an aspect, the loading conveyor belt may be configured to transport the plurality of analysis target batteries in a first direction, and the second moving unit may include a second rotating part configured to rotate around a second center as a central axis that is spaced apart from the first center by a predetermined distance in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the upper surface of the first rotating part, and a second driving part configured to rotate the second rotating part.

According to an aspect, the second rotating part may have a disk shape, and the predetermined distance may be smaller than a sum of a radius of the first rotating part and a radius of the second rotating part.

According to an aspect, the predetermined distance may be a value obtained by subtracting a diameter of the analysis target battery from the sum of the radius of the first rotating part and the radius of the second rotating part, the second moving unit may further include a second guide part configured to restrict the analysis target battery from deviating from a circumferential direction of the second rotating part, and the first rotating part and the second rotating part overlap a fourth position, and the fourth position may be a position where the first guide part and the second guide part are open to each other.

According to an aspect, the unloading unit may include an unloading conveyor belt configured to sequentially receive the plurality of analysis target batteries from the second rotating part, and an unloading driver configured to provide driving force to the unloading conveyor belt, an upper surface of the unloading conveyor belt may be lower than an upper surface of the second rotating part, and the second guide part may be open in an area of the second rotating part that is in contact with one end part of the unloading conveyor belt.

According to an aspect, the first position may be a position where the analysis target batteries loaded by the loading conveyor belt onto the first rotating part is first placed, the first rotating part may be configured to rotate in a direction such that the analysis target battery located at the first position moves away from the fourth position, the second rotating part may be configured to rotate in an opposite direction to the first rotating part, and at the fourth position, the analysis target battery may be configured to move from the first rotating part to the second rotating part by the rotation of the second rotating part.

According to an aspect, the second position may be a position before the analysis target battery located at the first position is rotated by the first rotating part and arrives at the fourth position, and the third position may be an edge position of the second rotating part where the second rotating part is in contact with the one end part of the unloading conveyor belt.

According to an aspect, the gas extraction unit may include a lower jig into which a lower end part of the analysis target battery is configured to be inserted; an upper jig configured to cover an upper end part of the analysis target battery and couple with an upper end part of the lower jig; a punching part mounted on the upper jig and configured to form a perforation hole on an upper surface of the analysis target battery; a jig moving part configured to move the upper jig in a vertical direction; and a clump configured to maintain the upper jig and the lower jig in a coupled state.

According to an aspect, each of the upper jig and the lower jig may have a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction, a first protrusion part protruding in a radial direction along an outer circumferential surface may be formed at a lower end part of the upper jig, a second protrusion part protruding in a radial direction along an outer circumferential surface may be formed at the upper end part of the lower jig, and the clump may be configured to hold the first protrusion part and the second protrusion part so as to be in close contact with each other while a bottom surface of the first protrusion part and an upper surface of the second protrusion part are in close contact with each other.

According to an aspect, the clumps may be provided in a pair, and a pair of the clumps may hold opposite ends of each other.

According to an aspect, the gas collecting apparatus may further include a cleaning unit configured to clean an inner side of the upper jig and a punching needle of the punching part.

According to an aspect, the cleaning unit may include a nozzle part configured to spray air; a friction block configured to clean through friction; a first frame having one end part coupled to the nozzle part and the other end part coupled to the friction block; a first rail configured to guide the first frame to move in a longitudinal direction of the first frame; a second frame extending in a direction different from the longitudinal direction of the first frame; and a second rail configured to guide the second frame to move in a longitudinal direction of the second frame, and the first rail may be fixed to the second frame, and the first frame may be configured to be moved toward or away from the upper jig by movement of the second frame.

According to an aspect, the gas collecting apparatus may further include a gas diffusion unit configured to receive the analysis target gas from the gas extraction unit and diffuse the analysis target gas in a gas diffusion space formed inside.

According to an aspect, the gas diffusion unit may include a base plate part having a plane shape perpendicular to a vertical direction; a cylindrical side wall part having a lower end part fixed to the base plate part, the cylindrical side wall part configured to be stretched in the vertical direction; a vertical moving part configured to move in the vertical direction, wherein an upper end part of the cylindrical side wall part is fixedly coupled to the vertical moving part in the vertical direction; a guide support part configured to guide a movement of the vertical moving part; and a vertical driving part configured to move the vertical moving part in the vertical direction, and the gas diffusion space may be defined by the base plate part, the cylindrical side wall part, and the vertical moving part.

According to an aspect, a gas port may be formed in the base plate part, and the analysis target gas may be injected into or discharged from the gas diffusion space through the gas port.

According to an aspect, the cylindrical side wall part may have a bellows structure.

According to an aspect, the vertical moving part may include a body member with a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction, and an upper plate member formed as a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction and having a bottom surface to which an upper end part of the body member is fixedly coupled, the upper end part of the cylindrical side wall part may be fixedly coupled to the bottom surface of the upper plate member, the body member may be located inside the cylindrical side wall part, and the gas diffusion space may be formed as a space surrounded by a lower end part of the body member, an upper surface of the base plate part, and an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical side wall part.

According to an aspect, when the vertical moving part is lowered to a lowest point, the lower end part of the body member may contact the upper surface of the base plate part, and all inner circumferential surfaces of the cylindrical side wall part may face an outer circumferential surface of the body member.

According to an aspect, the upper plate member may be formed in a disk shape, the guide support part may be formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction, an inner diameter of the guide support part may be the same as a diameter of the upper plate member, and the upper plate member may be guided by sliding on an inner circumferential surface of the guide support part.

According to an aspect, a lower end part of the guide support part may be fixed to the upper surface of the base plate part, a guide hole extending in the vertical direction may be formed on a side surface of the guide support part, the vertical driving part may include a power transmission member in which one end part is inserted into the guide support part through the guide hole, a vertical moving shaft with the vertical direction as a longitudinal direction and coupled to the other end of the power transmission member located outside the guide support part, and a driving actuator that is supported on the base plate part and configured to move the vertical moving shaft in the vertical direction, and the power transmission member may be coupled to the upper surface of the upper plate member.

A gas collecting apparatus of the present disclosure may be capable of accurately and stably delivering collected analysis target gas to a gas analysis module by automating loading, unloading, and punching of a battery for multiple secondary batteries.

In addition, the gas collecting apparatus of the present disclosure may, when sampling the analysis target gas diffused in the gas diffusion space of the gas diffusion unit, sample the analysis target gas at an optimized concentration for analysis by the gas analysis unit by varying the volume of the gas diffusion space.

Hereinafter, aspects according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this process, the size or shape of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation. In addition, terms specifically defined in consideration of the configuration and operation of the present disclosure may vary according to the intentions or customs of users and operators. Definitions of these terms should be made based on the content throughout this specification.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms such as “center”, “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “inner side”, “outer side”, “one surface”, and “other surface” is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawing or the orientation or positional relationship normally arranged when using the product of the present disclosure, and it is intended only for explanation and brief description of the present disclosure, and is not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure as it does not suggest or imply that the device or element shown must necessarily be configured or operated in a specific orientation with a specific orientation.

1 FIG. 2 8 FIGS.to 9 FIG. 10 12 FIGS.to 13 FIG. 14 15 FIGS.and 11 600 800 700 700 is a schematic diagram illustrating a gas collecting apparatus according to an aspect.are schematic diagrams illustrating a movement order of an analysis target batteryaccording to an aspect.is a perspective view illustrating a gas extraction unitaccording to an aspect.are plan views illustrating a cleaning unitaccording to an aspect.is a side view illustrating a gas diffusion unitaccording to an aspect.are cross-sectional views illustrating the gas diffusion unitaccording to an aspect.

1 15 FIGS.to Hereinafter, the gas collecting apparatus of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to.

The gas collecting apparatus may sequentially collect gas from a plurality of secondary batteries in an automated system. Specifically, the gas collecting apparatus of the present disclosure may automatically and sequentially perform processes such as punching, gas extraction, gas diffusion, gas sampling, and battery recovery for a plurality of secondary batteries without manual work.

The gas collecting apparatus may extract gas generated inside a secondary battery and deliver it to a device such as a gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), a gas chromatography-pulsed discharge detector (GC-PDD), a gas chromatography-thermal conductivity detector (GC-TCD), a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID), etc.

11 As an aspect, in the gas collecting apparatus, the analysis target batterymay be a secondary battery having a rigid cylindrical case.

11 In another aspect, in the gas collecting apparatus, the analysis target batterymay be a secondary battery of various shapes housed in a chemically resistant jig with an open upper end part. The chemically resistant jig in which the secondary battery is housed may be provided with a cylindrical outer shape. The chemically resistant jig may be provided in plurality, and the plurality of chemically resistant jigs may be formed with different internal structures. The internal structures of the plurality of chemically resistant jigs may be formed to correspond to various types of secondary battery structures. When the plurality of secondary batteries are housed in the plurality of chemically resistant jigs, the upper end parts of each of the plurality of secondary batteries may be housed so as to be exposed.

In the following description, the vertical direction may be the direction of gravity. For example, the upper part may refer to a position having higher potential energy than the lower part.

1 FIG. 600 11 a gas extraction unitconfigured to extract analysis target gas from the inside of the analysis target battery; 300 11 111 a loading unitconfigured to sequentially supply a plurality of analysis target batteriesone by one to a first position; 100 11 111 112 a first moving unitconfigured to move the analysis target batterylocated at the first positionto a second position; 500 11 112 600 11 600 112 a gripper unitconfigured to house the analysis target batterylocated at the second positionin the gas extraction unitor move the analysis target batteryhoused in the gas extraction unitto the second position; 200 112 100 211 a second moving unitconfigured to receive the analysis target battery located at the second positionfrom the first moving unitand move it to a third position; and 400 11 211 an unloading unitconfigured to recover the analysis target batterylocated at the third position. As illustrated in, the gas collecting apparatus of the present disclosure may include:

1 FIG. 12 13 600 11 600 700 12 700 13 In, a straight line indicated by a dashed dot line is a gas flow path, which may be a first gas flow pathand a second gas flow path. The analysis target gas generated in the gas extraction unitmay be delivered to a gas sampling unit or a gas analysis unit. Specifically, the analysis target gas initially extracted from the analysis target batteryin the gas extraction unitmay be sent to a gas diffusion unitdescribed below through the first gas flow path. In the gas diffusion unit, the analysis target gas may be adjusted to a concentration and pressure optimized for analysis and delivered to the gas sampling unit or the gas analysis unit through the second gas flow path.

12 13 The first gas flow pathand the second gas flow pathmay be gas flow paths including a pipe, a hose, etc.

The gas sampling unit (not shown) may include a gas sampling vessel having a gas sampling space formed as a fixed volume inside, and a shut-off valve for opening and closing the gas sampling vessel.

The gas analysis unit (not shown) may be a gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), a gas chromatography-pulsed discharge detector (GC-PDD), a gas chromatography-thermal conductivity detector (GC-TCD), a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID), etc.

100 110 120 110 300 110 110 100 130 11 110 The first moving unitmay include a first rotating partrotating around a first center as a central axis, and a first driving partfor providing the driving force to rotate the first rotating part, and the loading unitmay supply the analysis target battery to the upper surface of the first rotating part. The first rotating partmay have a disk shape, and the first moving unitmay further include a first guide partconfigured to prevent the analysis target batteryfrom leaving along a circumferential direction of the first rotating part.

110 11 110 11 110 110 110 More specifically, the first rotating partis a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction and may be provided in a disk shape centered around the first center. The analysis target batteryis placed on the edge of the first rotating part, and the analysis target batterymay move in the circumferential direction of the first rotating partaccording to the rotation of the first rotating part. On the edge of the first rotating part, a plurality of battery accommodating grooves having a shape corresponding to the lower end part of the analysis target battery may be formed along the circumferential direction.

120 120 110 The first driving partmay be a rotor. The first driving partmay have the vertical direction as the rotation axis. The first rotating partmay be rotated at the position of the first center.

130 130 110 210 130 110 The first guide partmay be provided in a ring shape. The first guide partis formed along the edge of the first rotating partand may not be formed in an area overlapping with the second rotating partdescribed later. The upper end part of the first guide partmay be formed higher than the upper surface of the first rotating part.

300 310 11 110 310 310 130 The loading unitmay include a loading conveyor beltconfigured to sequentially transport the analysis target batteriesto the upper surface of the first rotating part, and a loading driver configured to provide the driving force to the loading conveyor belt. The height of the upper surface of the loading conveyor beltmay be higher than the upper end part of the first guide part.

11 310 110 310 110 310 In other words, the analysis target batteriesmay be sequentially placed from the loading conveyor beltto the first rotating part. The longitudinal direction of the loading conveyor beltmay be the radial direction of the first rotating part. One end part of the loading conveyor beltmay face the first center.

300 320 11 310 The loading unitmay further include a pair of loading guide barsconfigured to guide the plurality of analysis target batteriesto be aligned in the longitudinal direction of the loading conveyor belt and prevent them from leaving the loading conveyor belt.

320 11 310 The pair of loading guide barsmay be parallel to each other, be spaced apart from each other by the distance greater than or equal to the diameter of the analysis target batteries, and extend in the longitudinal direction of the loading conveyor belt.

310 11 110 200 210 220 210 When the direction in which the loading conveyor belttransports the analysis target batteriesis referred to as a first direction, and the direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the upper surface of the first rotating partis referred to as a second direction, the second moving unitmay include a second rotating partrotating around a second center as a central axis that is spaced apart from the first center by a predetermined distance in the second direction, and a second driving partconfigured to provide the driving force for rotating the second rotating part.

210 200 230 11 210 The second rotating partmay be provided in a disk shape. The second moving unitmay further include a second guide partconfigured to prevent the analysis target batteriesfrom leaving along the circumferential direction of the second rotating part.

210 11 210 11 210 210 210 More specifically, the second rotating partis a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction and may be provided in a disk shape centered around the second center. The analysis target batteryis placed on the edge of the second rotating part, and the analysis target batterymay move in the circumferential direction of the second rotating partaccording to the rotation of the second rotating part. On the edge of the second rotating part, a plurality of battery accommodating grooves having a shape corresponding to the lower end part of the analysis target battery may be formed along the circumferential direction.

220 220 210 220 120 The second driving partmay be a rotor. The second driving partmay have the vertical direction as the rotation axis. The second rotating partmay be rotated at the position of the second center. The second driving partmay rotate in the opposite direction to the first driving part.

230 230 210 110 230 210 The second guide partmay be provided in a ring shape. The second guide partis formed along the edge of the second rotating partand may not be formed in an area overlapping the first rotating partand an area facing the unloading conveyor belt. The upper end part of the second guide partmay be formed higher than the upper surface of the second rotating part.

110 210 11 110 210 110 210 130 230 The predetermined distance between the first center and the second center may be smaller than the sum of the radius of the first rotating partand the radius of the second rotating part. More specifically, the predetermined distance may be a value obtained by subtracting the diameter of the analysis target batteriesfrom the sum of the radius of the first rotating partand the radius of the second rotating part. In the area where the first rotating partand the second rotating partoverlap, the first guide partand the second guide partmay be open.

400 410 11 210 410 410 210 The unloading unitmay include an unloading conveyor beltconfigured to sequentially recover the analysis target batteriesplaced on the upper surface of the second rotating part, and an unloading driver configured to provide the driving force to the unloading conveyor belt, and the height of the upper surface of the unloading conveyor beltmay be lower than the height of the upper surface of the second rotating part.

210 410 230 On an arc of the second rotating partthat contacts one end part of the unloading conveyor belt, the second guide partmay be open.

400 420 11 410 410 The unloading unitmay further include a pair of unloading guide barsconfigured to guide the plurality of analysis target batteriesto be aligned in the longitudinal direction of the unloading conveyor beltand prevent them from leaving the unloading conveyor belt.

420 11 410 The pair of unloading guide barsmay be parallel to each other, be spaced apart from each other by the distance greater than or equal to the diameter of the analysis target batteries, and extend in the longitudinal direction of the unloading conveyor belt.

111 11 310 110 110 210 113 110 11 111 113 111 113 111 113 112 211 110 11 111 113 113 11 The first positionmay be a position where the analysis target batteriesloaded by the loading conveyor belton the first rotating partare first placed. When the area where the first rotating partand the second rotating partoverlap is referred to as a fourth position, the first rotating partmay rotate in a direction in which the analysis target batterylocated at the first positionmoves away from the fourth position. For example, the angle formed by the first positionand the fourth positionwith the first center as the vertex may be a right angle. Here, when designating the first position, the fourth position, and the second position, the third positionas point positions, it means the center of the corresponding position. The meaning that the first rotating partrotates in a direction in which the analysis target batterylocated at the first positionmoves away from the fourth positionmeans that the angle formed by the fourth positionand the analysis target batterywith the first center as the vertex gradually increases.

210 110 The second rotating partmay rotate in the opposite direction to the first rotating part.

110 210 11 210 210 113 11 210 11 113 11 211 210 In the area where the first rotating partand the second rotating partoverlap, the analysis target batterymay be moved to the second rotating partand moved by the rotation of the second rotating part. In other words, at the fourth position, the analysis target batterymay be moved by the second rotating part. More specifically, when the analysis target batteryreaches the fourth position, the analysis target batterymay be moved to the third positionby the second rotating part.

112 11 111 110 113 211 210 410 The second positionmay be the position before the analysis target batterylocated at the first positionis rotated by the first rotating partand arrives at the fourth position, and the third positionmay be the position of the edge of the second rotating partthat contacts one end part of the unloading conveyor belt.

112 110 111 For example, the second positionmay be a position rotated 180° in the rotational direction of the first rotating partfrom the first position.

211 210 113 11 2 9 FIGS.to For example, the third positionmay be a position rotated 90° in the rotational direction of the second rotating partfrom the fourth position. Hereinafter, with reference to, the movement process of the analysis target batterywill be specifically described.

2 FIG. 11 300 111 100 As illustrated in, the analysis target batterymay be loaded from the loading unitto the first positionof the first moving unit.

3 FIG. 11 111 112 110 As illustrated in, the analysis target batterymay be moved from the first positionto the second positionby the rotation of the first rotating part.

4 FIG. 11 112 600 500 500 11 As illustrated in, the analysis target batterymay be moved from the second positionto the gas extraction unitby the gripper unit. The gripper unitmay include a gripping part configured to grip the analysis target batteryand a transporting part configured to transport the gripping part. The transporting part may be capable of moving in at least two axes, including the vertical direction.

5 FIG. 9 FIG. 11 600 600 650 620 610 630 11 11 As illustrated in, the analysis target batterymay be accommodated in the gas extraction unit, and in the gas extraction unit, as illustrated in, a clumpmay further fix the state in which a lower jigand an upper jigare coupled. A punching partmay form a perforation hole in the analysis target battery, and the analysis target gas may be extracted from the analysis target battery.

6 FIG. 11 112 500 As illustrated in, the analysis target batteryfrom which the analysis target gas has been extracted may be moved back to the second positionby the gripper unit.

7 FIG. 11 112 113 110 As illustrated in, the analysis target batterymay be moved from the second positionto the fourth positionby the first rotating part.

8 FIG. 11 113 211 210 400 As illustrated in, the analysis target batterymay be moved from the fourth positionto the third positionby the second rotating partand unloaded by the unloading unit.

9 FIG. 600 620 11 the lower jiginto which the lower end part of the analysis target batteryis inserted; 610 11 620 the upper jigconfigured to cover the upper end part of the analysis target batteryand couple with the upper end part of the lower jig; 630 610 11 the punching partmounted on the upper jigand configured to form the perforation hole on the upper surface of the analysis target battery; 640 610 a jig moving partconfigured to move the upper jigin the vertical direction; and 650 610 620 the clumpconfigured to maintain the upper jigand the lower jigin a coupled state. As illustrated in, the gas extraction unitmay include:

610 620 The upper jigand the lower jigmay be formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction.

610 620 601 A cylindrical shaped groove may be formed on the bottom surface of the upper jigand the upper surface of the lower jig, and the groove may be formed as a battery accommodation space.

610 611 620 621 At the lower end part of the upper jig, a first protrusion partprotruding in the radial direction along the outer circumferential surface may be formed, and at the upper end part of the lower jig, a second protrusion partprotruding in the radial direction along the outer circumferential surface may be formed.

611 621 611 621 601 On the bottom surface of the first protrusion partor the upper surface of the second protrusion part, an O-ring insertion groove may be formed. The bottom surface of the first protrusion partand the upper surface of the second protrusion partmay be in close contact with each other, so that the battery accommodation spacemay be formed as a sealed space.

650 611 621 611 621 The clumpmay be configured to hold the first protrusion partand the second protrusion partso as to be in close contact with each other while the bottom surface of the first protrusion partand the upper surface of the second protrusionare in close contact with each other.

650 650 The clumpsmay be provided in a pair, and a pair of the clumpsmay hold opposite ends of each other.

640 The jig moving partmay be a pneumatic cylinder.

600 800 610 630 800 610 630 11 The gas extraction unitmay further include a cleaning unitconfigured to clean the inner side of the upper jigand a punching needle of the punching part. The cleaning unitmay be for removing the electrolyte that is stuck on the inner side of the upper jigand the punching needle of the punching part. The punching needle may be configured to perforate the case of the analysis target battery.

10 12 FIGS.to 800 810 a nozzle partconfigured to spray air; 820 a friction blockconfigured to clean through friction; 830 810 820 a first framehaving one end part coupled to the nozzle partand the other end part coupled to the friction block; 840 830 830 a first railconfigured to guide the first frameto move in the longitudinal direction of the first frame; 850 830 a second frameextending in a direction different from the longitudinal direction of the first frame; and 860 850 850 a second railconfigured to guide the second frameto move in the longitudinal direction of the second frame. As illustrated in, the cleaning unitmay include:

840 850 The first railmay be fixed to the second frame.

610 850 The first frame may be approached or spaced apart from the upper jigby movement of the second frame.

830 850 The first frameand the second framemay be provided with a driving module such as a motor.

830 840 810 820 The first frameand the first railmay select one of the nozzle partthat sprays air and the friction blockthat cleans through friction depending on the degree of contamination.

850 860 610 The second frameand the second railmay be for approaching and retracting to the upper jig.

700 600 721 The gas collecting apparatus of the present disclosure may further include a gas diffusion unitconfigured to receive the analysis target gas from the gas extraction unitand diffuse the analysis target gas in a gas diffusion spaceformed inside.

13 15 FIGS.to 700 710 a base plate partformed as a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction; 720 710 a cylindrical side wall partwhich has a lower end part fixed to the base plate partand is capable of being stretched in the vertical direction; 730 720 a vertical moving partto which the upper end part of the cylindrical side wall partis fixedly coupled and configured to move in the vertical direction; 740 730 a guide support partconfigured to guide the movement of the vertical moving partin the vertical direction; and 750 730 a vertical driving partconfigured provide the driving force for moving the vertical moving partin the vertical direction. As illustrated in, the gas diffusion unitmay include:

710 720 730 721 A space surrounded by the base plate part, the cylindrical side wall part, and the vertical moving partmay form the gas diffusion space.

710 710 The base plate partmay be a plate having a plane shape perpendicular to the vertical direction and may be a plate made of a rigid material. For example, the material of the base plate partmay be SUS.

711 710 721 711 711 720 710 12 13 711 711 A gas portis formed in the base plate part, and the analysis target gas may be injected into or discharged from the gas diffusion spacethrough the gas port. The center of the gas portmay be located at the center of the circular area facing the cylindrical side wall partamong the areas of the base plate part. The first gas flow pathand the second gas flow pathmay be connected to the gas port. The flow path connected to the gas portmay include a hose, a tube, a pipe, etc.

720 720 720 720 The cylindrical side wall partmay be provided in a cylindrical shape with the vertical direction as the central axis. The cylindrical side wall partmay be extended or contracted in the vertical direction. The inner diameter value of the cylindrical side wall partmay be fixed when extended or contracted in the vertical direction. For example, the cylindrical side wall partmay be a bellows structure.

730 731 732 731 The vertical moving partmay include a body memberwith a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction, and an upper plate memberformed as a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction and having a bottom surface to which the upper end part of the body memberis fixedly coupled.

720 732 731 720 731 710 720 721 720 731 731 720 The upper end part of the cylindrical side wall partmay be fixedly coupled to the bottom surface of the upper plate member, and the body membermay be located inside the cylindrical side wall part. A space surrounded by the lower end part of the body member, the upper surface of the base plate part, and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical side wall partmay form the gas diffusion space. Here, an ideal structure may be a structure in which the inner diameter of the cylindrical side wall partand the outer diameter of the body memberare the same, and the coefficient of friction between the outer circumferential surface of the body memberand the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical side wall partmay be zero (0).

730 731 710 720 731 721 730 15 FIG. When the vertical moving partis lowered to the lowest point, the lower end part of the body membermay contact the upper surface of the base plate part, and all inner circumferential surfaces of the cylindrical side wall partmay face the outer circumferential surface of the body member. In other words, in the ideal structure, the volume of the gas diffusion spacemay be zero (0) in the maximum lowered state of the vertical moving partas shown in.

732 740 740 732 732 740 732 740 732 The upper plate membermay be formed in a disk shape, the guide support partmay be formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction, the inner diameter of the guide support partmay be the same as the diameter of the upper plate member, and the upper plate membermay be guided by sliding on the inner circumferential surface of the guide support part. For example, in the ideal state, the coefficient of friction between the side surface of the upper plate memberand the inner circumferential surface of the guide support partmay be 0. The upper plate membermay be formed to have a predetermined thickness to prevent the position from being twisted when moving in the vertical direction.

740 710 741 740 The lower end part of the guide support partmay be fixed to the upper surface of the base plate part, and a guide holeextending in the vertical direction may be formed on the side surface of the guide support part.

750 751 740 741 740 752 751 753 752 The vertical driving partmay include a power transmission memberhaving one end part inserted into the guide support partthrough the guide holeand the other end part located outside the guide support part, a vertical moving shaftextending in the vertical direction and coupled to the other end of the power transmission member, and a driving actuatorthat is supported on the base plate part and configured to move the vertical moving shaftin the vertical direction.

751 The power transmission membermay be provided as a support made of a rigid material and in a rod shape extending in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

751 732 751 740 741 732 The power transmission membermay be coupled to the upper surface of the upper plate member. More specifically, the bottom surface of the one end part side of the power transmission memberinserted into the guide support partthrough the guide holemay be attached to the upper surface of the upper plate member.

The gas diffusion unit having the above configuration may vary the volume of the gas diffusion space when sampling the analysis target gas diffused in the gas diffusion space by the sampling unit, thereby enabling sampling of the analysis target gas at a concentration optimized for analysis in the gas analysis unit.

Although aspects according to the present disclosure have been described above, they are only illustrative and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and aspects of equivalent range are possible therefrom. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present disclosure should be defined by the appended claims.

11 12 13 100 110 111 112 113 120 130 200 210 211 220 230 300 310 320 400 410 420 500 600 601 610 611 620 621 630 640 650 700 710 711 720 721 730 731 732 740 741 750 751 752 753 800 810 820 830 840 850 860 . . . Analysis target battery. . . First gas flow path. . . Second gas flow path. . . First moving unit. . . First rotating part. . . First position. . . Second position. . . Fourth position. . . First driving part. . . First guide part. . . Second moving unit. . . Second rotating part. . . Third position. . . Second driving part. . . Second guide part. . . Loading unit. . . Loading conveyor belt. . . Loading guide bar. . . Unloading unit. . . Unloading conveyor belt. . . Unloading guide bar. . . Gripper unit. . . Gas extraction unit. . . Battery accommodation space. . . Upper jig. . . First protrusion part. . . Lower jig. . . Second protrusion part. . . Punching part. . . Jig moving part. . . Clump. . . Gas diffusion unit. . . Base plate part. . . Gas port. . . Cylindrical side wall part. . . Gas diffusion space. . . Vertical moving part. . . Body member. . . Upper plate member. . . Guide support part. . . Guide hole. . . Vertical driving part. . . Power transmission member. . . Vertical moving shaft. . . Driving actuator. . . Cleaning unit. . . Nozzle part. . . Friction block. . . First frame. . . First rail. . . Second frame. . . Second rail